Folding table



Patented May 6, 1930 UNITED STATES JOSEPH SILVEBMAN; OF CHICAGO;ILLINOIS FOLDING TABLE Application filed August 12, 1926. Serial No.128,738.

This invention relates to improvements in furniture, more particularlyto an improvedv table having legs connected thereto and adapted to befolded up under or against the l top'of the table and its objects arethe provision of a generally improved and simplified construction thatmay be economically produced and a simple and inexpensive connectionwhich will permit easy and convenient opening and folding of thelegs andwhich Will lock the legs in extended and folded positions and hold samefirmly and rigidly in either of said positions.

The invention is illustrated in the accom 5 panying drawing in'which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a table embodyingthe presentinvention on the line 11 of Fig. 2;

' Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of. the table showing the foldedpositions of the legs in dotted lines; a V

Fig. 3 is a detail section-taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; r

Fig. 4 is a detailed cross section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3; and rFig. 5 is a fragmentary section showing a modified form of connectionbetween the legs and the top of the table.

. Referring now to the drawing, the particular embodiment of theinvention selected for illustration comprises atop 5 shown of generallyrectangular configuration although its shape is immaterial and may varyas desi ed. J i

The top .5 is supported, in'use, by two pairs of legs 6 and 7, with onepair of legsat or near each of the opposite ends of the top 5 and withone leg at or near each of the four corners of the top 5.

The legs 6 are connected together by an end piece 8 which extendsbetween and is suitably secured at its opposite ends to the upper endsof the legs, to lie adjacent the top 5 when the legs are extended oropened for use.

' 4.5 The legs 7 are similarly connected by an end piece 9 which issimilarly disposed at the opposite end of the table when the legs 7 areextended for use. i

The upper ends of each pair of legs are hinged to the top 5. Theparticular hinge connection, may of course, vary as desired. In theembodiment of the invention shown, a pair of fastening pieceslO aresecured transversely across the under surface of the top 5, one alongthe inner sides of each pair of legs I 6, and 7 These fastening pieces10 may be secured to the top 5 in any suitable or preferred manner andthe hinge connection be-: tween the top 5 and each pair of legscomprisesa pair of hinges 12 each having a leaf secured as by screws13 to theadjacent fastening piece 10 and its other leaf similarly secured to theadjacent side of the leg.

The connections between the top 5 and the legs 6 and 7 of the table aredesignated generally at 15. Each comprises a metal rod 16 extendingbetween and secured at its opposite ends at 17 in the pair of legs withwhich it is associated. A second rod 18 also preferably of metal,although these details may of course vary extends from substantially thecenter of each rod 16 and normal thereto towardthe opposite end of thetable.' The rods 16 andl8, which may be tubular as shown or solid, foreach pair'of legs are joined byfsuitahle T unions 20 and the free end ofeach rod 18 has.

telescopic engagement in a tube or sleeve 21, also preferablyof metalalthough this too may vary.

In the embodiment shown, in Figures 1 and 2 the adjacent or inner endsof the tube or sleeve members 21 are flattened together at 22 andpivoted at 23, between a pairfof angle members 24, secured at 25substantially centrally to the under surface of the top 5. The anglemembers 24 form in effect-a common bracket pivotally joining the.connections for both pairs of: legs to the top 5.

Secured at one end to each of -the tube or' sleeve members 21 as shownat 28, isa leaf spring 30 or a clip or strip biased toward the sleeve 21to which-it is secured and normally lying along and snugly against thesame. Near its opposite or free end each spring or strip 30 has a pin,stud or projection 32 normally urged by the inherent springiness of thestrip through an opening 34 in the tube or sleeve member 21 and whenthelegs are extended for use into an opening 35 in the r d 18- Th v mgagenen1:of t epi 2 n the opening 35 looks the legs firmly and rigidly inopen or extended position for use, and the tube or sleeve members 21completely encircling or embracing the rods 18 hold the legs firmlyagainst all directions of relative movement. At the same time, thetelescopic engagement provides a' simple and inexpensive connectionwhich is operated with ease and convenience.

Each rod 18 is provided With a second opening 40 into which the pins 32are automatically projected upon closing or folding up of the legs intothe dotted line positions shown, the pins whenengaging in the openings40 looking the legs firmly andrigidly in folded or collapsed position.

the pins 32 from the openings 35 or 40, the

, free ends of the strips or spring arms 30 are preferably extendedbeyond the pins 32 and are offset out at 42 to be conveniently graspedby the fingers for the purpose of pulling the pins from the openings 35or 40 as the case may be. To fold up the legs all that is necessary istospring the pins 32 out of the openings 35 and to then swing the legs upinto folded position about the hinge connections 12, the pins 35 beingautomatically projected into the openings 40 as the legs reach theirfolded position. Infolding and extending the legs, the rods 18 havetelescopic sliding movement within the tube or sleeve members 21 and areheld firmly in position in all directions.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the tube or sleeve members 21' of theconnections 15' are pivoted at 23 in separate brackets 24 which may be'spaced as desired to meet any particular table construction.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the rods18 may be secured in the T-unions 20by pins passing diametrically through the rods 18 and through thesurrounding portions of the unions 20. p p

In swinging thelegs into open and closed or folded positions, the endsof rods or rail members v16 may befree to turn in the legs or theT'unions 20 may be free toturn on the-rods"16 to permitthe relativeangular movement which takes place. In addition the rods 16 provide areinforcement between the legs and increase the "strength of the onepair of legs table'comprising a top with table and having paralleldepending flanges with an intervening space directed longitudinally ofthe table, a pair of rods one pivotally connected with each pair oflegs, a pair of hollow rods both disposed wholly in a planelongitudinally of the table, one of said hollow rods telescoping overeach of said first rods and said hollow rods having adjacent ends 1flattened and having fixed pivotal attachment between the dependingflanges of said bracket means, an externally exposed leaf springanchored at its upper end to the outer side of each of said hollow rodswith its free endolfset'outwardly and terminating adjacent the end ofthe hollow rod to be engaged and sprung out .by the finger, said springhaving an inwardly projecting detent pin between its anchored and offsetends, and said first rods each having a pair of openings engageable withsaid pin in the open'and said cross rods, a second pair of hollow rodseach disposed wholly in a plane longitudinah ly of the table, one ofsaid last rods telescoping over each of said first hollow rods and saidlast rods having adjacent ends flattened and having fixed pivotalattachment between the depending'fianges of said bracket means,

hollow rods each having a pair'of openings engageable with said pin inthe open and folded positionsof said legs. o

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 9th day of August,1926.

J OSEPH SILVERMAN;

